Tablet computer with interface channels

ABSTRACT

A modular interface and attachment system for integration with, or use with, a tablet computer is disclosed. The system allows for the modular attachment of ergonomic features, specialty I/O devices, and specialty data entry hardware. Interface channels may be built into the rear surface of the tablet housing, while the accompanying accessories are provided with mating splines. The interface channels can also include electrical contacts to provide power to accessories that are mounted, or to facilitate the mounting of an auxiliary battery. Accessories that require a physical data or I/O interface with the tablet can be mounted at either end of the tablet at positions where data connectors are provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/095,822 for a TABLET COMPUTER WITH INTERFACE CHANNELSfiled Dec. 23, 2014. The foregoing patent application is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field oftablet computers and, more specifically, to a modular attachment systemfor integration with, or use in connection with, a tablet computer.

BACKGROUND

Tablet computers (e.g., portable personal computers with a touch screeninterface) are a veritable Swiss Army Knife of application capability.There are over 1,000,000 applications available for use on tabletcomputers (as of October 2013). This practically endless, and growing,array of applications provides an enormous range of capabilities. Inparticular, it is the configurable screen, touch input, and suite ofbuilt in sensors that make tablets an ideal platform for this type ofsoftware proliferation.

For enterprise tablets, however, customer needs often require more thana great software application. For example, special ergonomic features,specialty input/output (I/O) ports, and custom hardware-based data-entrydevices are often required for enhanced usability.

Adding hardware enhancements to tablet computers raises complicationsthat are not issues with custom software applications. Typically, add-onhardware enhancement for tablet computers is complex and clunky inimplementation.

Therefore, a need exists for tablet computers having an improved abilityfor hardware enhancement, including but not limited to a modular systemfor tablet computers. The modular system for tablet computers may allowfor the attachment of ergonomic features, specialty input/output (I/O)devices, and specialty hardware-based data-entry systems in an easilyconfigured manner.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to an exemplary modular interface andattachment system for integration with, or use in connection with, atablet computer. The exemplary modular interface allows the attachmentof ergonomic features, specialty I/O devices, and specialtyhardware-based data-entry systems in an easily configured, modularmanner.

The exemplary interface system may provide spaced interface channelsbuilt into the back of a housing of a tablet computer, or into a case inwhich the tablet is received. The interface channels can allow for avariety of accessories to easily attach and detach, keeping the wholesystem neat and clean. Further, the interface channels can include powerconduits to provide power to accessories that are mounted in thechannels, or to facilitate the mounting of an auxiliary battery.

Accessories that require a physical data or I/O interface with thetablet may be mounted at either end of the tablet at positions whereplugs or other data connectors are provided.

The exemplary system may accommodate a large number of add-onaccessories without additional fitting kits, and a large number ofcombinations of add-on accessories.

In one exemplary embodiment, this disclosure provides for the interfaceto be integrated into the housing of the tablet computer itself. Inanother exemplary embodiment, a mounting rail, power conduit, andphysical data or I/O interface are incorporated into a case that isinstalled onto the tablet computer allowing the beneficial features ofthe disclosure to be adapted to any available tablet computer.

The present disclosure allows for the modular attachment of variousaccessories such as auxiliary batteries, barcode scanners (or othertypes of data entry devices), keyboards, any number of grips and/orhandles (i.e., ergonomic features), card scanners and readers, RFIDscanners, and/or any other known or unknown future peripherals. Theaccessory and attachment system provides for modular attachment andconfiguration that can enhance the user experience beyond the corefunctions, while furthering the capabilities of the underlying tabletand increasing the productivity of the various applications employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D depict various prior art mounting arrangementsfor tablet computers.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are back views of an exemplary embodiment illustratingattachment channels and splines.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, close-up view of a portion of the back of anexemplary tablet illustrating dovetail channels.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary accessory with a matingdovetail spline.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are rear perspective views of an exemplary cardreader accessory being installed in an exemplary attachment system.

FIG. 6 is another rear perspective view of an exemplary tablet withvarious exemplary accessories installed.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict an exemplary keypad accessory for an exemplarytablet.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary RFID reader for an exemplary tablet.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary barcode scanner for an exemplary tablet.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary handle accessory for an exemplary tablet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings (FIGS. 1-10), an exemplary embodiment of amodular interface and attachment system for a tablet computer isillustrated and generally indicated as reference numeral 10. As willhereinafter be more fully described, the interface systems allows forthe modular attachment of accessory devices including ergonomic handles,specialty I/O devices, and specialty hardware-based data-entry systems.The term “tablet computer” as set forth herein is used in anon-limiting, generic sense and generally refers to any number of tabletor slate shaped devices that can be manipulated by using a touch screen(e.g., the IPAD from Apple Inc., the GALAXY from Samsung Inc., etc.).Additional tablet features may include speakers, microphones, cameras,sensors, etc.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D represent various prior art accessory mountingarrangements. FIG. 1A illustrates a complicated strapping system formounting an accessory with a tablet. FIG. 1B shows a barcode scanner andother accessories which simply fit in the proprietary LIGHTNING computerbus and power connector of an IPAD tablet in an insecure manner. FIG. 1Cshows a keyboard accessory grafted onto the bottom edge of a tablet andFIG. 1D shows a card reader similarly attached on the right side edge ofthe tablet. These attachment mechanisms and accessory arrangements areergonomically intrusive.

As depicted and shown generally in FIGS. 2-6, the exemplary interfaceand attachment system for a tablet computer provides spaced interfacechannels that are built into the back of the tablet computer. Theinterface channels allow a variety of add-ons to easily attach anddetach, keeping the whole system neat and clean. Further, the interfacechannels may include electrical contacts (not explicitly shown in theFigures) to mate with and to provide power to accessories mounted on thechannels, or to facilitate the mounting of an auxiliary battery for thetablet.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that while the modularinterface and attachment system is illustrated as being integrallyformed in the housing of the tablet computer itself, it is fullyanticipated that the interface channel system could itself be an add-onaccessory. In one exemplary embodiment of such an arrangement, thesystem may be formed as a “snap-on” style case (not shown) that is thenattached to the tablet computer. The channels may be formed in the bodyof the accessory case rather than in the case of the tablet. Further,the channeled accessory case may itself incorporate an auxiliary batterymounted into the case for providing power to the tablet and/or attachedaccessories.

The exemplary embodiments as illustrated provide interface channels 14(FIGS. 2A, 2B) on the rear surface of the tablet computer 10. In theexemplary embodiment, the interface channels 14 are spaced, femaledovetail channels (FIG. 3). The channels 14 may also be T-shaped,L-shaped, or other inverted triangular or wedge cross sections (and/orother interlocking connection types). The spaced channels 14 allow anyvariety of modular accessories 12, 12 a, 12 b to be secured directly tothe tablet computer 10 (collectively, the various accessories may bereferred to herein as reference number 12).

Turning to FIG. 3, the two spaced dovetail channels 14 run in the longdirection of the tablet 10. It should also be appreciated that theinterface channels 14 could alternately run along the short direction ofthe tablet 10 as well.

Turning to FIG. 4, an accessory 12 is illustrated having complementarymale dovetail splines 16 which are slidably received into the spaceddovetail channels 14.

In the exemplary embodiment, the channels 14 and splines 16 also includemating electrical contacts (not shown) which engage when assembled toprovide power to the accessory 12 (if needed). In the alternative, theaccessory 12 could comprise a battery providing extended or auxiliarypower from the battery 12 to the tablet computer 10.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C depict the installation of an exemplary accessory12 a which, in the illustrated figures, is a Magnetic Slide Reader(MSR). When installed into the channels 14, the MSR splines (not shown,but representative splines 16 are illustrated in FIG. 4) physicallysecure the MSR accessory 12 a to the tablet 10 and also make contactwith electrical contact plates to provide for power transmission.Additionally, the MSR 12 a and the tablet computer 10 are provided withmating data connectors (not shown) which are also engaged when theaccessory 12 a is mounted to provide for data transmission. In oneembodiment, the data connectors may be located on the side edges of thetablet computer 10 and are protected beneath sliding or retractabledoors (not shown, but representative doors 18 are illustrated in FIG.3).

Alternately, data connectors, or other contacts or ports, could beprovided on the bottom surface of the tablet housing as needed for aparticular application. One skilled in the art can appreciate that oncean accessory 12 is installed, various set screws or other quickconnect/disconnect features (not shown) may be engaged to prevent theaccessory 12 from being dislodged during use and operation. Referring toFIG. 5C, it can also be seen that the accessory devices 12 may providefurther ergonomic functionality as grips or handles.

One of the benefits of a system as disclosed is the number andcombinations of add-on accessories 12 that can be accommodated. Turningto FIG. 6, it can be seen that the interface channels 14 allow a varietyof accessory devices 12 a (MSR), 12 b (hand grip), 12 c (serial dataport) to be simultaneously mounted.

Turning to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a keypad accessory 12 d can be installed toenhance the user interface with the device. Moreover, FIG. 8 depicts aninstalled RFID scanner 12 e, FIG. 9 depicts an installed barcode scanner12 f, and FIG. 10 depicts an installed handle 12 g.

In summary, it can be appreciated from the foregoing description andillustrations that the exemplary system allows for the modularattachment of various accessories such as auxiliary batteries, barcodescanners, keyboards, keypads, grips and/or handles, card scanners, cardreaders and/or RFID scanners directly to the housing of a tabletcomputer. The accessories and interface channels provide for modularattachment and configuration that can enhance the use experience of thetablet computer beyond its core function furthering the capabilities ofthe underlying tablet and increasing the productivity of the variousapplications employed.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporatesentirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patentapplication publications, and patent applications:

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments andenvironments of the invention have been disclosed. The present inventionis not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. The figures are schematic representations andso are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specificterms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not forpurposes of limitation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A modular system for a tablet computer, comprising: channels affixed to a rear surface of a substantially rectangular housing of a tablet computer, the channels beginning at an edge of the rear surface and extending the length of the rear surface in the long direction of the housing between opposite edges of the rear surface; wherein the channels (i) slidably receive a plurality of accessories at the edges of the rear surface, and (ii) mount the accessories in series; wherein the channels affixed to the rear surface of the substantially rectangular housing of the tablet computer include an electrical contact; wherein the tablet computer includes a mating data connector located on a side portion of one of the edges of the housing from which the channels extend; wherein the mating data connector is configured to engage with one of the accessories to provide for data transmission when mounted; and wherein the electrical contact of the channels is configured for transmitting power to the plurality of accessories when mounted.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the channels are integrally formed in a rear panel of the tablet computer.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the channels are formed in a channel housing that is affixed to the tablet computer.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the channel housing includes an accessory battery for the tablet computer mounted within the channel housing.
 5. The system of claim 3, comprising two spaced-apart channels.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the channels have a profile selected from the group consisting of: T-shaped cross section, an L-shaped cross-section, triangular cross-section, dovetail cross-section, and wedge-shaped cross-section.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the accessories are selected from the group consisting of: auxiliary batteries, barcode scanners, accessory keyboards, grips, handles, card scanners, card readers, and RFID scanners.
 8. A tablet computer and accessory system, comprising: a tablet computer having a substantially rectangular housing with a rear surface, the rear surface having two parallel spaced apart interface channels affixed to the rear surface of the substantially rectangular housing of the tablet computer, and that extend the length of the rear surface in the long direction of the housing between opposing edges of the rear surface; and a plurality of tablet accessories having a housing with a mounting surface, the mounting surface having two parallel spaced apart splines; wherein the splines are slidably receivable in the interface channels at the edges of the rear surface to affix the tablet accessories to the tablet computer housing in series; wherein the interface channels affixed to the rear surface of the substantially rectangular housing of the tablet computer include an electrical contact; wherein the tablet computer and one of the tablet accessories include mating data connectors to provide for data communication; wherein the tablet computer mating data connector is located on a side portion of one of the edges of the housing from which the channels extend; wherein the mating data connectors are configured to engage to provide for data transmission when the one tablet accessory is affixed to the tablet computer housing; and wherein the interface channels and the splines of another of the tablet accessories include mating electrical contacts to transmit and/or receive power when the another of the tablet accessories is affixed.
 9. A tablet computer, comprising: a substantially rectangular housing having a rear surface; two parallel spaced apart interface channels formed in the rear surface of the housing, the channels extending the length of the rear surface in the long direction of the housing between opposing edges of the rear surface, and the channels including electrical contacts; and an electrical data connector on a side portion of one of the edges of the housing from which the channels extend; wherein the channels are configured to (i) slidably receive two or more accessories at the edges of the rear surface, and (ii) mount the accessories in series; wherein the electrical data connector is configured to engage with one of the accessories to provide for data transmission when the accessories are mounted; and wherein the electrical contacts transmit and/or receive power with at least one of the accessories when mounted. 